So adherence to a signed contract only applies when it works in your favor? Not when it might be a hardship to comply?

If you want to be treated like a professional you should act like a professional. Your signature on a legal document should mean enough to you that you stand by it.

I have no respect for anyone (employer or employee) who willfully breaks a contract in this way. Unless you're ill, someone died, or there's some other emergency there is no defensible reason (IMO) to renege on a fair contract you agreed to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can give two weeks notice, but then you will not be able to use your current family as a reference in the future. If you've been with them more than 6 months, you're going to have to explain to any potential future nanny families why you have a 6+ month gap in your employment history (or why things ended on a bad note and thus they are not a good reference for you). I don't recommend going that route personally, as a nanny myself, but it's up to you.

The only thing they can say is that she only gave two weeks notice. If they lie and give bad reference for child care, they are in trouble.

They can say she broke the contract. The contract says 30 days notice, she is giving 14 days. She broke the contract end of story.

Breaking contract is not a big deal. She did not walk out on them, only gave two weeks notice instead of four. I doubt a four week notice clause in a contract for an at-will employee would hold up in court.

It’s about the reference, not a court case.

Anonymous wrote:How would you feel if your employers decided to only give you two weeks notice, rather than the 4 weeks specified in the contract?

You signed a contract. Whether or not it's worth enforcing for your employers is one issue. But whether you want to retain a good reference and standing with them, and whether you care about your personal integrity or not are still relevant.

This is her livelihood and a better opportunity to take care of herself financially. Them finding a replacement and letting her go is not comparable.

No one's going to sue you (and it wouldn't hold up if they did), but this is much more of a relationship issue than legal issue. If you've been looking for a job because your current family is awful to you and you just want out ASAP, then you probably don't care that they will hold a bit of a grudge and maybe give you a lukewarm reference. But if this is some longstanding job where the family has been great and it's ending because the kids are aging out, the family is moving, you're moving, etc. then I would think much harder about the shorter notice and (if you do decide to go for the job) do what you can to help reduce the inconvenience.

When I interviewed great nannies, they often had a firm stance on when they were available or how much notice they needed to give. And their nanny families gave them glowing references, called me back immediately, and otherwise were clearly trying to help their nanny find another good home. It's not a coincidence.

Anonymous wrote:How would you feel if your employers decided to only give you two weeks notice, rather than the 4 weeks specified in the contract?

You signed a contract. Whether or not it's worth enforcing for your employers is one issue. But whether you want to retain a good reference and standing with them, and whether you care about your personal integrity or not are still relevant.

Most employers fire the nanny the minute she gives notice.

Anonymous wrote:How would you feel if your employers decided to only give you two weeks notice, rather than the 4 weeks specified in the contract?

You signed a contract. Whether or not it's worth enforcing for your employers is one issue. But whether you want to retain a good reference and standing with them, and whether you care about your personal integrity or not are still relevant.

She can't let a better opportunity go because of an inflexible contract.

How would you feel if your employers decided to only give you two weeks notice, rather than the 4 weeks specified in the contract?

You signed a contract. Whether or not it's worth enforcing for your employers is one issue. But whether you want to retain a good reference and standing with them, and whether you care about your personal integrity or not are still relevant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can give two weeks notice, but then you will not be able to use your current family as a reference in the future. If you've been with them more than 6 months, you're going to have to explain to any potential future nanny families why you have a 6+ month gap in your employment history (or why things ended on a bad note and thus they are not a good reference for you). I don't recommend going that route personally, as a nanny myself, but it's up to you.

The only thing they can say is that she only gave two weeks notice. If they lie and give bad reference for child care, they are in trouble.

They can say she broke the contract. The contract says 30 days notice, she is giving 14 days. She broke the contract end of story.

Right, but OP can't wait the extra 2 weeks for the job.

OP, do you know of another nanny who you can refer to your job?

Congrats on your new job, btw.

Yes, if you are leaving on a fairly good note and want to preserve the reference, if you can find a replacement for the last two weeks, it would probably go a long way toward smoothing any ruffled feathers.

Just imagine if they had given you two weeks' notice instead of the four in your contract. You'd be more pissed about being let go than you would have been otherwise. If they gave you two weeks notice, but also gave you two weeks' severance, that would probably change your feelings about it a lot. You'd still be unhappy to be let go, but wouldn't feel like you'd been treated unfairly by someone breaking the contract.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can give two weeks notice, but then you will not be able to use your current family as a reference in the future. If you've been with them more than 6 months, you're going to have to explain to any potential future nanny families why you have a 6+ month gap in your employment history (or why things ended on a bad note and thus they are not a good reference for you). I don't recommend going that route personally, as a nanny myself, but it's up to you.

The only thing they can say is that she only gave two weeks notice. If they lie and give bad reference for child care, they are in trouble.

They can say she broke the contract. The contract says 30 days notice, she is giving 14 days. She broke the contract end of story.

Breaking contract is not a big deal. She did not walk out on them, only gave two weeks notice instead of four. I doubt a four week notice clause in a contract for an at-will employee would hold up in court.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can give two weeks notice, but then you will not be able to use your current family as a reference in the future. If you've been with them more than 6 months, you're going to have to explain to any potential future nanny families why you have a 6+ month gap in your employment history (or why things ended on a bad note and thus they are not a good reference for you). I don't recommend going that route personally, as a nanny myself, but it's up to you.

The only thing they can say is that she only gave two weeks notice. If they lie and give bad reference for child care, they are in trouble.

They can say she broke the contract. The contract says 30 days notice, she is giving 14 days. She broke the contract end of story.

Right, but OP can't wait the extra 2 weeks for the job.

OP, do you know of another nanny who you can refer to your job?

Congrats on your new job, btw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can give two weeks notice, but then you will not be able to use your current family as a reference in the future. If you've been with them more than 6 months, you're going to have to explain to any potential future nanny families why you have a 6+ month gap in your employment history (or why things ended on a bad note and thus they are not a good reference for you). I don't recommend going that route personally, as a nanny myself, but it's up to you.

The only thing they can say is that she only gave two weeks notice. If they lie and give bad reference for child care, they are in trouble.

They can say she broke the contract. The contract says 30 days notice, she is giving 14 days. She broke the contract end of story.

Anonymous wrote:You can give two weeks notice, but then you will not be able to use your current family as a reference in the future. If you've been with them more than 6 months, you're going to have to explain to any potential future nanny families why you have a 6+ month gap in your employment history (or why things ended on a bad note and thus they are not a good reference for you). I don't recommend going that route personally, as a nanny myself, but it's up to you.

The only thing they can say is that she only gave two weeks notice. If they lie and give bad reference for child care, they are in trouble.

You can give two weeks notice, but then you will not be able to use your current family as a reference in the future. If you've been with them more than 6 months, you're going to have to explain to any potential future nanny families why you have a 6+ month gap in your employment history (or why things ended on a bad note and thus they are not a good reference for you). I don't recommend going that route personally, as a nanny myself, but it's up to you.

No. If they found someone cheaper they wouldn't hesitate to give you no notice.

Nanny Here! My contract say I should give 4 weeks notice but just found a better position that is going to start in 2 weeks.... if I give 2 weeks notice I’m going to be in trouble? I’m in Maryland ..